Vol. 12, Issue 9 (2023)

Author(s):
G Hima Bindu, Dr. D Sreedhar, Dr. Syed Sadarunnisa, Dr. Y Sharath Kumar Reddy, Dr. M Bala Krishna and Dr. B Prathap

Abstract:
A field experiment was carried out in polyhouse at College of Horticulture, Dr. YSRHU-Anantharajupeta, Andhra Pradesh during rabi season of the year 2023 to study the effect of antistress substances on growth and yield of watermelon during moisture stress conditions. The experimental design employed is split plot with three main plots and five subplots replicated thrice. The outcomes of the research revealed that spraying of Homobrassinolide @ 3ml/l at no moisture stress showed maximum vinelength, chlorophyll content and fruit yield per hectare. While minimum sex ratio and maximum no. of fruits were recorded under Salicylic acid spray @ 200 ppm at no moisture stress conditions. Even when subjected to 7 days moisture stress at 50 % flowering period, the application of Homobrassinolide at a concentration of 3 ml/l substantially increased fruit yield, superior to that achieved with sodium nitrophenolate and control, even in the absence of stress conditions.